James City County man charged with attempted purse snatching

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James City County man charged with attempted purse snatching

James City County, Va. – James City County Police have arrested a man for attempted larceny.

Police arrested 28-year-old Benjamin Brock Lewis of James City County. He is charged with attempted larceny from a person, two counts of assault and battery, and drunk in public.

On Thursday, July 24 just after 9 p.m., James City County Police responded to the Monticello Marketplace Shopping Center in reference to an attempted purse snatching.

When police arrived at the scene, Lewis was being held on the ground by a 25-year-old male Target employee and a 25-year-old male patron.

Police say a 52-year-old woman was walking in the parking lot going to Target, located at 5440 Monticello Avenue, when Lewis approached her from behind in front of the store.

Lewis grabbed her purse that was slung over her shoulder and tried to pull it away from her, police say. She was on her cell phone at the time and pulled back and screamed. The purse straps broke, causing the purse’s contents to spill onto the ground. Lewis then ran away toward the Dollar Tree when he was chased down and confronted by the two witnesses.

A struggle ensued and Lewis pushed the Target employee to the ground and punched the patron in the face.

Both witnesses were able to hold Lewis on the ground until officers arrived and took him into custody. Both witnesses and the female victim received minor injuries that did not require medical treatment, police tell NewsChannel 3.

Lewis is being held in the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail without bond.